Danté Leverock, the Sligo Rovers defender, has been declared fit for a preseason friendly against Ballinamallard at Ferney Park today.

The Bermuda dender’s fitness had been in doubt after he suffered a minor ankle injury and was forced off in the final minute of Sligo’s 3-0 win over Galway United in Castlebar at the weekend.

However, he has since shrugged off the knock and is looking forward to taking part in his team’s third preseason friendly inside of a week.

“It was a minor injury and I trained today [yesterday] so will be fit for the game tomorrow,” Leverock said.

The 26-year-old’s injury took some of the gloss off of his first goal for the Irish top-flight side, which he scored with a tap-in from a freekick to open the scoring.

“It was great to get a good amount of minutes under my belt and importantly a clean sheet,” Leverock said.

“Scoring is a bonus, and I hope to replicate those goals throughout the season, but clean sheets are the most important thing.”

Regan Donelon scored a brace, both from set-pieces, after Leverock made the initial breakthrough to put the match beyond Galway’s reach.

Leverock joined Rovers last month from Estonian outfit Narva Trans after agreeing to the terms of a one-year deal and made his first appearance for his new club last week in an 11-0 victory against Sure Sports in their opening preseason friendly at Solar Park.

“It’s been a very tough pre- season but I’m definitely feeling the benefits of the hard work,” said Leverock, who made 34 appearances and scored eight goals for Narva Trans last season.

“We are working hard as a team and finding the patterns of play the manager [Liam Buckley] wants us to play. I’m looking forward to the remaining preseason games and starting the season strongly.”

Leverock is only the second Bermudian behind goalkeeper Freddy Hall, who spent three years at Limerick, to play in the Irish top flight.

Rovers will face a stern test in their SSC Airtricity League opener away to champions Dundalk at Oriel Park on February 15, before hosting St Patrick’s Athletic in their home opener on February 22, at The Showgrounds.

“We have a tough start to the season, but I’m certainly looking forward to the test,” Leverock added.